12 Wisdom

The weather in June is still bearable, but once July and August arrive, it becomes intolerable. The Forbidden City has few trees, and the scorching sun beats directly down onto the red walls and golden tiles. The young eunuchs in the Ning-shou Palace can hardly endure the heat, and several have already been carried out after suffering from heatstroke.

Yu Yan always feels incredibly fortunate that, after her transmigration, she doesn't have to endure such suffering. She lies lazily in the Yihe Pavilion, enjoying the relief provided by a basin of ice.

Zhalafen sits quietly at the desk, where sheets of white rice paper are laid out in an orderly fashion. Yu Yan cannot yet understand what is written on them, but judging by the rather unpleasant expression on her Fifth Aunt’s face, the words on the paper are certainly not pleasant.

"Princess, Madam Tong is currently in the Le-shou Hall. The Empress Dowager wishes for you to go and see her."

The Le-shou Hall is where the Empress Dowager receives guests. A reference to "Madam Tong" must relate to the Kangxi Emperor’s maternal clan, the Tonggiya. For no apparent reason, this lady has suddenly entered the palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager has specifically asked the Fifth Princess to meet her.

Yu Yan looks up at Zhalafen with curiosity. A trace of impatience flashes across the princess’s brow, but she quickly composes herself, assuming a gentle and well-mannered expression, and nods in agreement: "I will go once I have changed into attire suitable for receiving guests."

After the palace maid who delivered the message leaves, Yu Yan cannot suppress her curiosity and asks, "Aunt, who is Madam Tong?"

"She is your Imperial Grandfather’s maternal aunt." Zhalafen changes her clothes with the assistance of her maids, her hair, previously hanging loose, now swept up into a small, dual-looped bun. "Would you like to come with me, Elinju?"

Since there is a rare opportunity to meet an outsider, why not go? Yu Yan nods, takes the Fifth Princess’s hand, and follows her obediently into the Le-shou Hall.

Inside the hall, besides the Empress Dowager, sits an old woman with hair like silver. Seeing the Fifth Princess, she rises in haste to offer a greeting, but before she can bow, the Princess gently stops her: "Great-Aunt."

My, what a high level of seniority!

"Why did you bring Elinju along?" The Empress Dowager smiles, beckoning Yu Yan over and handing her a piece of Sachima from the side.

Zhalafen smiles, "Fourth Brother entrusted her to me; it wouldn't be right to leave her alone in the Yihe Pavilion."

Yu Yan chews on the cloyingly sweet Sachima, her eyes and ears keenly attuned to the conversation.

"Shun'anyan is a mischievous child, and his father, Yekeshu, is always out and about, paying no heed to his son. I never expected the foolish things he has done to reach the palace, let alone come to your attention, Princess."

The mere thought of what her grandson has done makes Madam Tong’s face burn with shame. She doesn't know what kind of scoundrels he has been hanging around with. Wandering the alleys and chasing women would be one thing, but to keep a mistress behind their backs—if the Fourth Prince hadn't confronted them directly a few days ago, they would still be kept in the dark.

Back home, Tong Guowei was so furious he resorted to family discipline, and after a few strokes of the rod, Shun'anyan stopped blustering about taking a concubine.

Madam Tong, looking at the Fifth Princess’s calm expression, cannot help but blush. The Emperor’s decree for the marriage had barely been issued before Shun'anyan caused this scandal. It was not just a slap in the face to the Emperor, but a disgrace to the entire lineage of the Yonghe Palace as well.

The Fifth Princess was raised by the Empress Dowager, and because the Empress Dowager could not bear to see her married far away, she remained in the capital. Kangxi, recalling the old rift between the Tonggiya and the Uya clans over the adoption of Yinzhen by Empress Xiaoyi, had hoped to use this marriage to mend ties between his blood kin and his beloved consort, while also providing a place for Yinzhen, who always felt caught in the middle.

He truly never expected Shun'anyan to be so worthless as to keep a secret mistress. The imperial decree had been issued days ago; how could the golden words of the Son of Heaven be easily changed?

However, with the Fourth Prince exposing the matter and Consort De weeping day and night, Kangxi feels as though his head is about to burst, wishing he could pretend the decree had never been issued.

The Fifth Princess remains impassive: "Elinju is a child, and that is how a child should be."

Is a man of twenty, like Shun'anyan, supposed to be considered an ignorant child?

Madam Tong, having hit a wall, feels choked for words. But being elderly and having weathered many storms, she regains her composure and says with a smile, "I hear the Princess is well-versed in Han studies. As the saying goes, ‘A prodigal who returns is worth more than gold.’ Once his father returns to the capital to discipline him properly, and as he matures in a couple of years, he will surely become an adult. Such foolishness will never happen again. I hope the Princess can forgive him."

The Fifth Princess lowers her eyes and says nothing. The world is always lenient toward men. If she, as a princess, were to keep a man on the side, not only would the Tong family raise a ruckus before the Emperor, but the common people would surely point fingers and condemn her.

Yet, when such a thing happens to Shun'anyan, Madam Tong can openly claim he was young and ignorant, blaming the woman for seducing him and casting all responsibility onto others. Once she marries into the Tong family, as long as Shun'anyan treats her even slightly well, people will praise them as a loving couple, dismissing his current transgressions as nothing more than a youthful indiscretion.

How can such logic exist in this world?

Yu Yan, listening, is filled with indignation. She feigns innocence and turns to the Empress Dowager: "Wuku Mama, this man named Shun'anyan did something foolish, so why must Fifth Aunt forgive him?"

The Empress Dowager replies, "He is your Fifth Aunt’s future husband."

With her suspicion confirmed, Yu Yan drawls, "Since he did something bad, can't Fifth Aunt just change to a different husband?"

The smile on Madam Tong’s face becomes increasingly strained. The Fifth Princess, however, curls her lips slightly. The Empress Dowager sighs, frowning: "The Son of Heaven’s golden words cannot be easily changed."

Yu Yan pouts: "But Imperial Grandfather is the Son of Heaven; can he not make the decision for Aunt? If it were my father, he would have already stormed over there."

Everyone believes this, as the Fourth Prince is known for being extremely clear about his loves and hates and for being fiercely protective. It was he who personally brought the matter of Shun'anyan’s mistress to the Emperor.

Even the Son of Heaven has matters that are difficult to resolve. Kangxi, having stood outside the curtain listening for a while, finally strides into the Le-shou Hall and laughs: "Though Elinju is young, she certainly has a way with words."

"Imperial Grandfather!" Yu Yan scurries to Kangxi’s side, relying on her status as a child to tug on his sleeve: "She is bullying Fifth Aunt."

Madam Tong, who had just risen to offer a greeting, turns pale at these words.

Kangxi says coldly, "Madam, you are old and your heart has grown soft. You must remember that ‘jade must be carved to become an object of beauty.’ Constant indulgence of a child is never a good thing."

Madam Tong bows her head in acknowledgment, but Yu Yan feels a sudden pang of frustration.

"Wenxian is my beloved daughter. No matter who she marries in the future, I will never let anyone bully her."

Kangxi scoops Yu Yan up, feeling that this little girl has grown even heavier since the New Year.

Madam Tong is visibly restless.

"Since you have rarely entered the palace, Madam, I shall stay and keep you company for a while," Kangxi says cheerfully. "Zhalafen, you take your little niece back and continue your studies."

The Fifth Princess responds gracefully, takes Yu Yan’s hand, and they bow to withdraw. Once they reach the main room of the Yihe Pavilion, Yu Yan climbs onto a round stool. The handwriting on the white paper on the desk looks vaguely familiar; it appears to be the calligraphy of her "cheap" father.

"Aunt, do you really hate that Shun'anyan?"

Zhalafen is reading *Youthful Learning and Precious Lore*, and has happened upon the chapter on "Marriage." The opening lines read: "A good connection is destined from a former life; a perfect match is made by Heaven." She ponders for a moment, then closes the book and tosses it aside.

"It is all the same." Zhalafen waves her hand, signaling the palace maids to leave. Only when they are alone does she continue: "Whether it is Shun'anyan or someone else, it was never a choice of my own."

Yu Yan did not expect her aunt’s thinking to be so advanced, reaching the point of longing for free love. But as soon as the Fifth Princess speaks, she realizes she had underestimated her.

"Born into the imperial family, there are benefits, but there are also disadvantages." Zhalafen sits Yu Yan at the table and guides her hand to slowly write the character for "woman." "In the royal family, the most common thing one sees is the phrase 'helplessness in one's own fate.' Elinju, I know you were born with early wisdom; you understand most of what adults say, and I do not treat you as an ordinary child."

"I have studied since I was young, learning faster than several of my brothers. Imperial Father once praised me, saying, 'Taught from a tender age, intelligent and precocious, with a natural delight in poetry and books.' But I cannot attend the Imperial Study, nor can I discuss politics before Imperial Father like Fourth Brother and the others." Zhalafen says calmly, "As a woman, no matter how much I study, and even if I am wiser than all my brothers, these advantages are merely icing on the cake. My ultimate destination remains marrying and becoming someone’s wife."

"Actually, I envy Mutu'erhe—that is, your Fourth Aunt." Zhalafen bows her head gently, looking at Yu Yan, who is listening with rapt attention. "Although she was married far away to Mongolia, in the letters she sends me in secret, she says her husband is willing to share half of his power with her. She can handle political affairs with him and express her own opinions freely."

"Her talent and wisdom can be put to use, while my intelligence is forever trapped in the deep boudoir."

Yu Yan stares at the Fifth Princess, stunned. She never thought she would hear such words from a woman raised under the strictures of feudal education.

"Imperial Father and the Empress Dowager love me, and knowing I have been frail since childhood, they have done everything they could to keep me in the capital." Zhalafen brushes Yu Yan’s soft hair. "So, whether it is Shun'anyan or someone else, in the end, it makes no difference to me."

"Even so, Elinju, Aunt still hopes you will read more books."

Zhalafen points to the shelves where her books are kept, her eyes curving into a smile: "That was originally a cabinet for curios. Later, I asked Fourth Brother to help me search for many books. There were so many they wouldn't fit, so I simply removed all the ornaments and filled them with books. Now, you can’t even tell what it used to be."

"Your intelligence should not be trapped in the deep palace."